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The Explosion

Flash Flash Flash (Jade Tree)

Black Halos Dig an Explosion: Rich Jones of Canadian glam-punks the Black Halos told us about his love for an Explosion gem.

Rich Jones: Back in the late 90’s/early 2000’s I was doing a lot of super-low-budget punk rock van tours around Canada and the US. This was a time when you’d load up a CD wallet and a discman and settle into the back bunk of the van for 6 weeks at a time with nothing but those few records to keep you entertained. The Explosion had just released Flash Flash Flash in 2000 and I was immediately drawn to their mix of frantic hardcore energy and straight-up rock anthems. Man, I must have listened to this record hundreds and hundreds of times on those long drives, watching the country roll by and just getting lost in the music.

(Jade Tree)

I’ve always had a thing for bands that sound like they’re about to careen off the rails at any moment – The Replacements, NY Dolls, The Voidoids, you get the picture – and this record was about as off-road as it gets. The guitars swing wildly and at times the whole band sounds like it’s about to fall apart, but it only adds to the relentless sense of urgency. More than 20 years later Flash Flash Flash still resonates with me the way that it did back then. Matt Hock’s lyrics sing through soaring choruses of social injustice, class war, friendship, and family. The album’s 14 songs are short, sharp and efficient, racing to the finish line in about 27 minutes. It’s a glorious record.Obviously picking a favourite album is a near impossible task. If you were to ask me this same question next week I’ll tell you it’s Let Love In, London Calling, The Holy Bible, Worry, or whatever else feels good that day. But for today, right now, this one jumped out at me as it has so many times over the years.The Explosion made a couple more albums after this and still play occasionally. I enjoyed their later, more-polished records because there was still great songwriting and a strong message at the heart of what they were doing. But this is their lightning-in-a-bottle moment; the sound of youthful rage, fiery ambition and even a hint of optimism all wrapped up in euphoric 2-minute blasts of punk rock. What more could you ask for?

Black Halos Dig an Explosion: The Black Halos’ new album How the Darkness Doubled is out November 25.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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